Fastening for the backs of picture-frames



(No Model.)

T. C. VAIL.

FASTBNING POR THE BACKS 0F PICTURE FRAMES. No. 317,248. Patented May 5,1885.'

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

THOMAS C. VAIL, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

FASTENING FOR THE BACKS OF PICTURE-FRAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 317,248, dated May 5,1885.

Application tiled March 26, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs C. VAIL. of Topeka, county of Shawnee, andState of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement inFastenings for the Backs ofPicture-Frames; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in fastenings for the backs ofpicture-frames; and it consists of sheet metal cut so as to form astaple the prongs of which are wedge shape and flat.

The objects of my invention are to provide a fastening that can bedriven into the frame without splitting it, that can be extractedwithout trouble and damage to the frame, and will hold the two edges ofthe separate boards in the back. These objects I attain by means of thefastenings shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aplan view of the fastening. Fig. 2 is a plan View of a frame having myinvention applied.

wWhen desired to use the fastening A, the boards B B are put in place,as shown in Fig. 2 of drawings, and then the fastening is driven intothe pieces O C C C in the manner shown in drawings. Now, as the prongsare flat, there is no danger of splitting the side pieces, C C C C, andas the fastening has a long flat head two connecting-pieces can beeasily held after the manner shown in drawings; and this fastening canalso be driven into the corner of a frame without parting the joint, asis shown in drawings. This requires now two fastenin gs, andconsequently twice the time and labor.

This shape of head has another advantagenamely, that of depressing andstraightening a warping place in the boards.

The fastening has its prongs or limbs beveled in both directions, asshown in the drawings. This makes the prongs pointed, and still preventsthe tendency to spread the limbs or prongs, as would be the case whenthey are tapered or beveled on one side alone. The prongs are short, andthe bevel or taper on each side is rather abrupt, so that while thefastening is easy to set in place it will not enter so far as to haveany tendency to split the frame, nor to be hard to extract. Now, when itis desired to extract the fastenings a common edged tool can be placedbetween the framepiece C and the head of the fastening A and the latterpried out of place without bending or destruction, thus saving thenecessary waste of the present system where common nails are used.

I am aware that flat metallic staples have been made with the limbs orprongs beveled or taered on the inside only, and I do not claim such, asthis form of staple would tend to spread when driven into the wood; but

What I do claim is- The herein-described iiat metallic fastening havingthe two prongs or limbs, as shown, each limb being formed with insideand outside converging bevels or tapers, said prongs being short and thetwo bevels or tapers on each being of about equal inclination, as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I append my, signature.

THOMAS C. VAIL. vWitnesses:

FRANK L. WooDFoRD, HARRY AUSTIN.

